The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the right and left thumbs, as well as his index, middle, ring, and little fingers, have been granted a 10 percent rating each. The Veteran is not entitled to higher ratings for these conditions.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran had limitation of motion in all ten digits with gaps less than one inch between the thumb pads and fingers, which supports the assigned 10 percent ratings under Diagnostic Code 5228 for the thumbs and Diagnostic Codes 5229 and 5230 for the index, middle, ring, and little fingers.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the right thumb, Degenerative arthritis of the left thumb, Degenerative arthritis of the right index finger, Degenerative arthritis of the left index finger, Degenerative arthritis of the right middle finger, Degenerative arthritis of the left middle finger, Degenerative arthritis of the right ring finger, Degenerative arthritis of the left ring finger, Degenerative arthritis of the right little finger, Degenerative arthritis of the left little finger
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- October 8, 2019
- Citation
- 19177425
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted an initial 20 percent disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the right thumb, effective from December 16, 2024.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the right thumb, effective December 16, 2024.
- Denied
The Board denied a compensable rating for left thumb degenerative arthritis prior to September 6, 2023, as the Veteran's condition did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of multiple fractures of the left thumb is denied as there is no evidence of a gap of more than two inches between the thumb pad and fingers, which would warrant a higher rating.
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